Ornamental electric lamp



April 22, 1941. F. J. PASSANTINQ ET AL. 2,239,340

ORNAMENTAL ELECTRI C LAMP Filed Feb. 27. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PatentedApr. 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ORNAMENTAL ELECTRIC LAMP FrankJ. Passantino and Vincent Davi, San Francisco, Calif.

Application February 27, 1940, Serial No. 321,138

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved ornamental electric lamp, and theprimary object of the present invention is to provide an article of thiskind which is composed substantially entirely of natural abalone shellsassembled in a novel manner to provide a structure which is simple anddurable, and which is highly ornamental or pleasing in appearance.

Other objects and features "of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novelform, combination and arragement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, shown in said drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a lamp constructed in accordancewith the present invention. I

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present lamp includes a base inthe form of a single natural abalone shell 5, disposed horizontally andwith its convex side up so that the marginal edge of the same willslightly contact a table top or other similar supporting surface.Arranged substantially centrally upon the base shell 5 is a reflector 6consisting of another single natural abalone shell which is verticallydisposed so that a side of the same contacts the top of the base shell5, and which is secured to the latter by means of bolts 1 or the likepassing through the contiguous of the shells 5 and 6. In this way, theshells are rigidly connected in proper relationshinand the contiguousportions of the shells are provided with alined openings as at 8 and 8ain which is snugly fitted and secured, as by cementing or the like, thelower end of a lamp socket 9 adapted to receive an ordinary small andpreferably colored incandescent electric light bulb II). In this way,the bulb is arranged substantially centrally of and in front of thereflector shell 6 near the lower portion of the latter.

In order to obscure the bulb Ill so that an observer may not besubjected to the direct glare from said bulb, a screen member I I isdisposed in front of the bulb III and consists of a relatively largefragment of a natural abalone shell disposed vertically directly infront of the reflector shell 6 and having its lower portion disposedupon the base shell 5 and fastened to the latter by means of a bolt I2or the like passing through the contiguous portions of the base shell 5and saids'creen-forming shell fragment I I. The shells and shellfragmentmay be ground thin at points so as to render the same send-translucentin places, and the screen I I preferably is such a shell fragment asincludes-the usual water escape openings I3 of the abalone shell so asto permit some direct rays to pass therethrough from the bulb I0.

Grooves are illustrated as having been ground in the screen shellfragment II as at I4 to render the same semi-transulcent in places. Itwill of course be understood that the screen I I is such a fragment. asmay not extend the full width of the reflector shell 6, thus leavingopposite side portio'ri's of said shell 6 visible and free of the screenfor the forward reflection of light without interception.

Current may be supplied to the lamp socket 9 by means o'flan attachmentcord I5 having an attachment plug IB at one end whichmay be plugged intoan ordinary outlet receptacle of a house wiring system; the other end ofthe attachment cord being suitably connected to the terminals of thesocket 9, and a suitable switch I! being interposed in one of the wiresof the attachment cord for controlling the supply of current to the bulbIll. The switch I1 is secured against the underside of the base shell 5by means of a clamping nut I8 threaded on the neck I9 of the switchcasing, which neck I9 protrudes upwardly through an aperture provided inone side portion of the base shell 5. The switch has a button or likeelement 20 protruding upwardly through the neck I9 for operating theswitch so as to open and close the circuit of the lamp III. Theattachment cord is extended downwardly through one of the water escapeopenings I la of the base shell 5, after which the connection of thewires of attachment cord I5 is made with the switch I1 and the lampsocket 9, such connections being within or under the base shell 5 wherethey are hidden from view. As shown more clearly in Figure 4, the lowerportion of the screen forming shell fragment II is disposed so as toabut the reflector shell 6 at the sides thereof, as indicated at I8; Inthis way, a single bolt is all that is required at I2 to secure theshell fragment II in place, the abutment of the same at I8 with thereflector shell 6 preventing pivotal movement of the screen or shellfragment I I about said bolt I2. Due to the brilliant coloring andmother-of-pearl lining of the shells, a brilliant and highly ornamentallighting effect is had when the bulb I is lighted, and, due to theconstruction of the lamp substantially entirely from the natural abaloneshells, the lamp is highly artistic and pleasing in appearance. Theparts are so related and assembled as to provide a very simple anddurable construction. Minor changes in the specific details ofconstruction illustrated and described are contemplated within thespirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What we claim as new is:

1. An ornamental lamp comprising a base consisting of a single naturalabalone shell disposed horizontally and arranged with its convex sideup, a reflector consisting of a single natural abalone shell disposedvertically and directly upon said base, means rigidly securing said baseand reflector shells together, the contiguous portions of said base andreflector shells having alined openings, an electric lamp socket havingits lower portion fitted and secured in said openings, the base shellhaving an aperture therethrough and provided with the usual water escapeopenings, a

switch fastened to the underside of said base shell and having anoperating element projecting upwardly through said aperture, and anattachment cord passing downwardly through one of said water escapeopenings and connected to the switch and lamp socket beneath said baseshell.

2. An ornamental lamp comprising a base consisting of a single naturalabalone shell disposed horizontally and arranged with its convex sideup, a reflector consisting of a single natural aba lonesh-ell disposedvertically and directly upon said base, means rigidly securing said baseand reflector shells together, the contiguous portions of said base andreflector shells having alined openings, an electric lamp socket havingits lower portion fitted and in said openings, a screen for a bulbplaced in said socket, said screen consisting of a fragment of a naturalabalone shell disposed vertically directly at the front of the reflectorshell and directly upon the base shell, and means securing said screento said base shell, said screen forming shell fragment having the usualwater escape openings in the lower portion thereof.

3. An ornamental lamp comprising a base consisting of a single naturalabalone shell disposed horizontally and arranged with its convex sideup, a reflector consisting of a single natural abalone shell disposedvertically and directly upon said base, means rigidly securing said baseand reflector shells together, the contiguous portions of said base andreflector shells having alined openings, an electric lamp socket havingits lower por tion fitted and secured in said openings, a screen for abulb placed in said socket, said screen consisting of a fragment of anatural abalone shell disposed vertically directly at the front of thereflector shell and directly upon the base shell, and means securingsaid screen to said base shell, said screen forming shell fragmenthaving the usual water escape openings in the lower portion thereof andbeing reduced in thickness at suitable points to render the samesemi-translucent at such points.

4. An ornamental lamp comprising a base consisting of a single naturalabalone shell disposed horizontally and arranged with its convex sideup, a reflector consisting of a single natural abalone shell disposedvertically and directly upon said base, means rigidly securing said baseand reflector shells together, the contiguous portions of said base andreflector shells having alined openings, an electric lamp socket havingits lower portion fitted and secured in said openings, a screen for abulb placed in said socket, said screen consisting of a fragment of anatural abalone shell disposed vertically directly at the front of thereflector shell and directly upon the base shell, means securing saidscreen to said base shell, said reflector shell being disposed with itsmajor axis horizontal and extending in the same direction as the majoraxis of the base shell, the opposite ends of said reflector shellprojecting beyond opposite sides of the screen forming shell fragment.

FRANK J. PASSANTINO. VINCENT DAVI.

